Local reservist picked for honorary Kiss roadie duties

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Randy Erickson | Lacrosse Tribune

As an honorary Kiss roadie at Saturday’s La Crosse Center concert, Danielle Seitz was told they wouldn’t work her too hard. “I told them they could if they wanted to,” she said. “I’m used to it, being in57a9352a17994.image the military.”

Her being in the military was the reason she was chosen for the Roadie for a Day honor. It’s something the band does as a way to honor military service. It’s done in partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find employment opportunities.

Seitz has spent a third of her 27 years in the military, joining the Wisconsin Air National Guard at 17. The La Crosse Central High School graduate is now a staff sergeant with the 128th Air Control Squadron, and she served an overseas deployment at an air base at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia from October 2012 to May 2013.

When the chance to be an honorary Kiss roadie came up, Seitz was hesitant, but applied with encouragement from her longtime boyfriend, Josh Luba. When she was chosen, she opted to take him as her “plus one,” a tough choice because her mother, Debra Seitz-Taylor, is a Kiss fanatic.

“The first thing my mom said was, ‘Tell Gene (Simmons) I watched his show, every single episode,’” Seitz said. “She’s a huge fan.”

Meeting the band, Seitz was struck by their imposing physical presence, augmented by their platform boots. “I knew they were going to be tall, but I didn’t realize how tall they were going to be,” she said, estimating Simmons’ height as close to 7 feet.

For her roadie duties, Seitz was assigned to the media room, helping get ready for the band’s meet and greet. She also got to sit in on the sound checks, and with their all-access passes, she and Luba got to hang out backstage as the band prepared for the show.

Guitarist and lead singer Paul Stanley did a lot of stretching to get ready, and he was effusive in expressing his gratitude to Seitz for her military service. “It was a bit overwhelming at times,” Seitz said. “It’s crazy to me when people keep thanking me for my service. Nobody forced me to do it. I wanted to do it.”

Simmons, who with Stanley is an original member of the iconic band, didn’t talk much before the show, but he made a lot of faces, Seitz said. “And he’s a big winker, too. He likes to wink.”

When the band did hit the stage, they made a big impression on Seitz. “They had so many fireworks and pyrotechnics in the background, it was insane,” she said.

 Seitz, a social worker with Western Wisconsin Cares, and Luba spent most of the show watching from a spot right off the side of the stage. At one point they were both called up on stage in front of 4,700 fans to accept a ceremonial $150,000 check from the band for Hiring Our Heroes during a five-minute tribute to the military.

“It was very nerve-wrecking being on stage, but Paul Stanley put his hand on my head and I was way more relaxed,” Seitz recalled.

In addition to some fantastic memories, Seitz got a couple cool souvenirs: a guitar pick from lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and two drum sticks from drummer Eric Singer, which he handed to Seitz as he walked offstage after playing the band’s signature song, “Rock and Roll All Nite.”

“I was a little starstruck,” she said.